Tajikistan refutes lowering of Kyrgz embassy status in Dushanbe

The Tajik Foreign Ministry has denied the Kyrgyz diplomat's statement about lowering the status of the Kyrgyz embassy in Dushanbe and said it hasn't received a relevant note, Information Department of the Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti on Jan.20.

Kyrgyz Ambassador to Tajikistan, Urmat Saralaev was recalled to Bishkek on Jan. 14 "for consultations", and on Jan. 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Askar Beshimov said the diplomat was recalled for the purpose of "lowering the level of diplomatic representation". He said that the chargé d'affaires of Kyrgyzstan will stay in Tajikistan.

"They (Kyrgyzstan) sent a note saying that they were recalling their ambassador for consultations. But the Tajik Foreign Ministry hasn't received a note about lowering the level of diplomatic relations," a source told the agency.

On Jan.11, an armed conflict took place on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. As a result, at least 10 soldiers of the two countries were injured. First Deputy Commander of Border Troops of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Chief of General Staff of Border Guards Sharaf Faizullaev said earlier that the clash between the servicemen of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was in Tajik territory.